Aston Villa ended a three-game Premier League losing run with a 2-0 win over West Ham United at Villa Park, John McGinn steering them ahead before Ollie Watkins added the second in a pointed response to his England omission. With rivals dropping points, Unai Emery's side strengthened their hold on the Champions League places and moved five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.
West Ham arrived after taking 15 points from their previous nine league games, but they never settled after Jean-Clair Todibo withdrew in the warm-up, forcing a reshape that left them disjointed in the opening half. They improved after the break and saw Pablo blaze their best chance over, yet Watkins punished that miss and Forest's win elsewhere deepened the pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
McGinn's finish rewards Villa's early authority
Villa's bright opening became a lead after 15 minutes through a well-worked set-piece. Morgan Rogers had been fouled to the left of the penalty area, Matty Cash took the free-kick short, Jadon Sancho rolled the ball square along the edge of the box, and McGinn had the time to measure a precise finish into the far corner.